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Fighting Ebola on the Ground: Rubber Gloves and Chlorine

The Situation on the Ground in West Africa

Many of us have closely followed the stories about the spread of Ebola in West Africa and particularly themiraculous story of the missionary aid workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, in their battle with the deadly virus. We may have wondered helplessly what we individually could do to combat the raging infection, which experts believe can be transmitted to humans by fruit bats and other carriers. Journalists on the ground have identified several surprisingly simple and cost-effective options for concerned readers.

Recently, The Wall Street Journal published a poignant piece, simply titled, “Ebola Virus: For Want of Gloves, Doctors Die.” The piece opens, “Rubber gloves were nearly as scarce as doctors in this part of rural Liberia,” and describes how concerned doctors would substitute plastic bags or even use their bare hands in their quest to heal sick patients. Sadly, many did not realize the patients had contracted Ebola until too late.

The lesson: “Much of this toll could have been avoided or at least mitigated, hospital workers on the front lines say, if they had been provided with medical basics, starting with one of the simplest: disposable rubber gloves.”

From Our Sources in the Field

We (at the SAHARA Project) have heard this same refrain from those involved with the fight against Ebola in Guinea, West Africa. When we contacted Compassion Evangelical Hospital there about ways to mitigate the dangers of the virus in the region, the hospital administrator echoed the same need. He reported that, “Since the onset of the epidemic, the consumption of chlorine in the hospital, in gloves, and other personal protective equipment has greatly increased” and requested a six-month supply of chlorine and rubber gloves for the staff, who are increasingly concerned about protection from the virus.

The six-month supply will cost approximately $2000.

Taking Action

While we are continuing our project training local eye technicians in Burundi for the fight against preventable blindness, we would love to be able to provide for Compassion at this critical moment.

Many of us have closely followed the stories about the spread of Ebola in West Africa and particularly the miraculous story of the missionary aid workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, in their battle with the deadly virus. We may have wondered helplessly what we individually could do to combat the raging infection, which experts believe can be transmitted to humans by fruit bats and other carriers. Journalists on the ground have identified several surprisingly simple and cost-effective options for concerned readers.

One year ago, she died from complications in childbirth, a killer that every month takes twice as many lives as the entire Ebola epidemic. ... Many of these success stories were made possible through international development aid for maternal health, which increased steadily from 2010 to 2015.

Widow of Ebola Victim, Mother of Five Cries For Assistance March 18, 2018

Her story is probably more mind grappling than some of the famous stories told about the ugly impact left behind by the world's worst deadly Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, including Liberia in 2014. Liberia became the worst affected with more than 5000 deaths. For Shianeh, every year Decoration ...

One year ago, she died from complications in childbirth, a killer that every month takes twice as many lives as the entire Ebola epidemic. ... Many of these success stories were made possible through international development aid for maternal health, which increased steadily from 2010 to 2015.

Widow of Ebola Victim, Mother of Five Cries For Assistance March 18, 2018

Her story is probably more mind grappling than some of the famous stories told about the ugly impact left behind by the world's worst deadly Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, including Liberia in 2014. Liberia became the worst affected with more than 5000 deaths. For Shianeh, every year Decoration ...